Method and apparatus for packing wood chips or the like



T. KODA 1,998,875

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING WOOD CHIPS OR THE LIKE April 23, 1935.

Filed July 5, 1934 Zhzw ffoda,

Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING WOOD cures on THE LIKE Tetsuo Koda,

Komagome, Hongoku,

Tokyo,

Japan, assignor to Chemipulp Process, Inc., Watertown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 5, 1934, Serial No. 733,935 In Japan February 6, 1934 20 Claims.

proves the quality of the pulp and the yield thereof per unit of raw material cooked.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the packing time and cost by the preliminary action of a packing fluid medium in a first stage diffuser, followed by a final action of such a medium in a second stage diffuser. This twostage method of diffusion results in more uniform distribution of the chips and increases the velocity of the same, so that a closer packing and more equal distribution is obtained. By the method, more chips can be evenly distributed and packed in a given digester space in considerably less time than with the methods heretofore used. Furthermore, as my chip packing device can be mounted on a truck, it is possible to use one chip packing apparatus for a large number of digesterswithout the necessity of providing a special track or trolley for the device. In addition, as I use rotatable packing medium jets from both diffusers in combination with a vertically adjustable disk, the direction of the jets can be varied so that the device may be employed with d1- gesters of various sizes and shapes.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved packing device, partly in elevation and shown resting on the neck of a digester.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a detail on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I designates the neck of a conventional digester of the type employed in manufacturing paper pulp. My apparatus comprises an outer chip feeding tube 2 having a medial external flange 2a designed to rest on the upper end of the neck of a digester. Within the tube 2 is a rotatable tube 3 having a second stage rotatable difiuser 4 at its lower end, and another, first stage rotatable diffuser 5 at its upper end. A spider 6 for the first diffuser, and a spider I for the second diffuser, support these diffusers on a rotatable shaft 8.

A packing fluid such as steam is fed to the diffusers by means of a stationary hollow fitting 9 which may be supported by the tube 2 in any suit.- able manner.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper difiuser is of inverted frusto-conical shape and is provided with slots ID for discharging the packing fiuid into the space between the tubes 2 and 3. Each of these slots has a proper angle relatively to both the generating line of the conical body of the diffuser and the diameters of the horizontal section of the difiuser in order to cause the fluid to be discharged in the form of jets which will be directed downwardly and act to accelerate and whirl falling chips or the like fed into the tube 2 through the upper end of the latter.

The lower or second diffuser comprises an outer frusto cone l I and an inner frusto cone l2 which are spaced apart by spiral threads I! that form spiral passageways between the members II and I2. The jets of packing fluid formed by the passageways I5 also act to whirl the descending chips or the like and to spread the same outwardly in the shape of a hollow cone, the size of the base of which is varied by a vertically adjustable disk I3. This disk is secured to the .lower end of a rod (6 that passes upwardly through the hollow shaft 8 and is provided with any suitable means for raising. and lowering the disk. For example, the upper end of the rod may terminate in a rack I! that meshes with a pinion I8 fixed on a rotatable shaft it! that may be manually turned.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft 8, any suitable form of gearing may be used. For instance, beveled gears 20 and 20a at the upper end of the shaft 8 may be rotated by a shaft 2| driven by any desired type of motor, not shown.

A protecting casing 20b is preferably arranged at the top of the fitting 9 to protect the rack and pinion, as well as the beveled gearing.

The steam or other packing fluid fed to the fitting 9 through a pipe 9a may be controlled by any suitable type of valve 22, and the fluid will discharge not alone through the slits H), but through the outlet ends 23 of the passageways I5.

For the purpose of discharging air or the like from the digester during the packing operation, it

will be noted that the tube 2 is made of less diam- 5 eter than the internal diameter of the neck of the digester. This leaves an annular passageway 24 between these parts so that the rising air can enter a hollow ring 28 on the chip feeding tube through apertures 25, and can then be discharged from the ring through a nozzle 21.

In operation, as the chips are fed through the tube 2, the valve 22 will be opened and steam will enter the fitting 0 under pressure. At the same time, the parts I, 4, i, i, I, ll, l2 and H are set in rotation in the same direction through the instrumentality of the hollow shaft 8, and as these parts rotate, whirling, downwardly directed Jets of steam will be discharged through the slots I I. These slots of the first diffuser will not alone organize the falling chips into a hollow cylinder, but will whirl the chips and drive them downwardly. Then, when the chips of this whirling cylinder reach the outlets 20 of the lower diffuser, steam issuing from the jets IE will organize the falling chips into a hollow cone, the diameter of the base of which will depend on the height of the digester. a

In the beginning of the operation, the disk I! which controls the size of the hollow cone will be in its lowermost position, and consequently, the base of the cone will be relatively small. However, as the chips buildup in the digester, the disk I! will be adjusted upwardly, and thus increase theisize of the base at the cone.

Obviously, with such an apparatus, the chips or other fibrous material will not only be evenly distributed and be -uniformly and densely packed, but if steam is usedw-asthe packing medium, it will saturate and heat the chips, with the result that when the cooking liquor'is introduced into the digesterfthechips will be uniformly soaked, and this will enable one to obtain more uniform p p- To facilitate :rot'ation of the parts 3, l, B, 6, I, II, II, N with a minimum of power, the shaft 2! rotates those parts'in such a direction that the jets issuingfrom the nozzles move in the opposite direction. Hence, .the jets in striking the chips,

will have a tendency to assist the shaft 8 in rotating, this action being similar to that of a turbine.

From the foregoing it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and while I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is manifest that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of packing fibrous material in a digester or the like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material into the upper end of a digester, discharging rotating jets of fiuid into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling annular mass, and afterwards introducing other jets of fluid into the mass and thereby causing the mass to assume a substantially conical form while falling into the digester.

2. A method of packing fibrous material in a digester or the like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material into the upper end of the digester, discharging rotating jets of fluid into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling annular mass while forcing the fibrous ma a1 downwardly, and afterwards introducing ot er rotating jets of fluid into the mass and thereby causing the mass to assume a substantially conical form while forcing the fibrous material downwardly into the digester.

3. A method of packing. fibrous material in a digester or the like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material into the upper end of a digester, discharging rotating jets of steam into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling annular mass, ,and afterwards introducing other Jets of steam into the mass and thereby causing the mass to assume a substantially conical form while falling into the digester.

4. A method of packing fibrous material in a digester or the like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material into the upper end of the digester, discharging rotating jets of steam into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling annular mass while forcing the fibrous material downwardly, and afterwards introducing other rotating jets of steam into the mass and thereby causing the mass to assume 'a substantially conical form while forcing the fibrous material downwardly into the digester.

5. A-chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided withinclined outlets for introducing Jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diffuser-positioned below the first difiuser and provided with nozzles for directing other Jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fiuid to said diffusers, and means for simultaneously rotating the diffusers in a single direction.

-6. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage difiuser in the conduit provided with inclined outlets for introducing jets of a packing fiuid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned below the first diifuser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of thepacking fiuid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fiuid to said diffusers, and means for simultaneously rotating the diifusers, the first stage diffuser comprising a hollow inverted trustecone having outlet slots inclined both as to the generating line of the conical body of the diifuser's and the diameters of the horizontal section of the difi'users.

'7. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser-in the conduit provided with inclined outlets for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, at second stage difiuser positioned below the first diffuser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fiuid to said diffusers, and means for simultaneously rotating the diffusers, the

second stage difiuser comprising inner and outer frustocones separated by spiral threads to form spiral passageways. a

8. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage difiuser in the conduit provided with inclined'outlets for introducing Jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diifuser positioned below the first difi'user and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fluid to said diifusers, means for simultaneously rotating the diifusers, and vertically adjustable means cooperating with the nozzles of the second stage difiuser for causing fluid issuing from said nozzles to spread out in the shape of a hollow cone.

9. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with inclined outlets tor-introducing jets oi a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned below the flrst difiuser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fluid to said diffusers, means for simultaneously rotating the diffusers, the flrst stage diffuser comprising a hollow inverted irusto cone having outlet slots inclined both as to the generating line of the conical body of the diffusers and the diameters of the horizontal section of the diiiusers, and vertically adjustable means cooperating with the nozzles ot-the second stage difluser for causing fluid issuing irom said nozzles to spread out in the shape of a hollow cone.

10. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, -a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with inclined outlets ior introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage difiuser positioned below the first diflfuserand provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fluid to said diflusers, means for simultaneously rotating the diflusers, the second stage difiuser comprising inner and outer irusto cones separated by spiral threads to form spiral passageways, and vertically adjustable means cooperating with the nozzles of the second stage difluser for causing fluid issuing from said nozzles to spread out inthe shape of a hollow cone.

11. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a flrst stage diffuser in the conduit provided with inclined outlets for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned below the first difiuser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the-chips, means for feeding the packing fluid to said diffusers, means for simultaneously rotating the difiusers, and a vertically adjustable disk cooperating with the nozzles of the second stage diffuser for causing the jets issuing from said nozzles to spread the falling chips in the shape or a hollow cone of varying base diameter.

12. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through 'which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage difiuser in the conduit provided with inclined outlets for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned below the first difluser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means for feeding the packing fluid to said diflusers, means'ior simultaneously rotating the diffusers, the flrst stage difluser comprising a hollow inverted frusto cone having outlet slots inclined both as to the generating line of the conical body of the diffusers and the diameters of the horizontal section of the diffusers, and a vertically adjustable disk cooperating with the nozzles 01 the second stage diffuser for causing the jets issuing from said nozzles to spread the falling chips in the shape-oi a hollow cone of varying base diameter.

13. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage difluser in the conduit provided with inclined outlets tor introducing jets of a packingfluid into the chips, a second I stage diffuser positioned below the first difluser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, means icr feeding the packing fluid to said diffusers, means for simultaneously rotating the diffusers, the second stage diffuser comprising inner and outer frusto cones separated by spiral threads to form spiral passageways, and a vertically adjustable disk cooperating with the nozzles of the second stage diffuser for causing the jets issuing from said nozzles to spread the falling chips in the shape of a hollow cone of varying base diameter.

14. A chip packing apparatus comprising an outer conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, an inner tube positioned within the outer tube, a first stage diffuser secured to the upper end of the inner tube and having an inverted hollow Irusto cone provided with inclined outlet slots, a second stage diffuser secured to the lower end of the inner tube and provided with a series of spiral passageways, a

shaft on which the inner tube and both diflfusers are mounted, and means for simultaneously rotating said shaft, inner tube and both difiusers.

15. A chip packing apparatus comprising an outer conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, an inner tube positioned within the outer tube, a first stage difluser secured to the upper end of the inner tube and having an inverted hollow frusto cone provided with inclined outlet slots, a'second stage diiiuser secured to the lower end of the inner tube and provided with a series 01' spiral passageways, a shaft on which the'inner tube and both diifusers are mounted, means for simultaneously rotating said shaft, inner tube and both difiusers, and means cooperating with the second stage diffuser to variahly'spread jets issuing from said passageways.

16. A chip packing apparatus comprising an outer conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, an inner tube positioned within the outer tube, a first stage difiuser secured to the upper end of the inner tube and having an inverted hollow frusto cone provided with inclined outlet slots, a second stage difluser secured to the lower end of the inner tube and provided with a series of spiral passageways, a shaft on which the inner tube and both diflfusers are mounted, means for simultaneously rotating said shaft, inner tube and both diffusers, and a vertically adjustable disk positioned below the second stage diffuser and having its axis coaxial with the ,axis of said shaft.

17. A chip packing apparatus comprising a stationary conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a hollow fitting having one of its portions positioned in said conduit,-a flrst stage hollow difl'user rotatably connected to said portion and having an inverted cone shaped part provided with outlet slots, each slot being arranged at an angle relatively to the generat ing line of said cone shaped part, as well as to the diameters of the horizontal section of said part, a tube flxed to and depending from said difluser, a second stage diffuser fixed to and depending. from said tube, said second stage dii'iuser comprising inner and outer frusto-conical portions spaced apart by spiral threads to form downwardly and outwardly directed spiral passageways, and means for simultaneously rotating said first stage diffuser, tube and secondstage difluser.

18. A chip packing apparatus comprising a stationary conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a hollow fitting having one 01' its portions positioned in said conduit, a first stage hollow difluser rotatably connected to said portion and having an inverted cone-shaped part provided with outlet slots, each slot being arranged at an angle relatively to the generating line of said cone-shaped part, as well as to the diameters of the horizontal section oi said part, a tube fixed to and depending from said difluser, a second stage difiuser fixed to and depending from said tube, said second stage diffuser comprovided with outlet slots, each slot being ar'- ranged at an angle relatively to the generating line of said cone shaped part, as well as to the diameters of the horizontal section of said part, a. tube fixed to and depending from said diffuser, a second stage difl'user fixed to and depending from said tube, said second stage diffuser comprising inner and outer frusto-conicai portions spaced apart by spiral threads to form downwardly and outwardly .directed spiral passageways, means for simultaneously rotating said first stage diffuser, tube and second stage diffuser, and a vertically adjustable disk positioned below the second stage difluser, and having its axis coaxial with the axis or rotation of that difiuser. 20. A method of packing fibrous material in a digester or the like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material into the upper end of a digester, simultaneously discharging rotating jets of fluid into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling annular mass, and afterwards introducing other jets of fluid into the mass at a lower elevation and thereby causing the whirling mass to assume a substantially conical form whiletalling into the digester.

'I'ETSUO KODA. 

